The Loving Story

The current furor over same-sex marriage adds topicality to Nancy Buirski's HBO-aired documentary about the 1967 Supreme Court case that declared laws prohibiting interracial unions in the United States to be unconstitutional. The case stemmed from an appeal of the 1958 conviction of Richard Loving and his wife, Mildred (a woman of mixed African American and Native American descent), for violating Virginia's anti-miscegenation statute. Forced to leave their native state for Washington, D.C., the couple approached the ACLU for assistance. Two young lawyers, Bernard Cohen and Philip Hirschkop, would argue on their behalf unsuccessfully in the state courts but ultimately won a unanimous verdict striking down the Virginia law—and similar laws in other states—at the highest federal level. The Loving Story draws on archival footage (including news interviews with Richard and Mildred—both of whom died before Buirski began her work—and what appear to be home movies) and historical stills, supplemented by newly filmed recollections from Cohen, Hirschkop, and the couple's children and friends. Buirski also incorporates an audio recording of the arguments by both sides—the Lovings' lawyers and the Virginia Attorney General. From the portrait presented here, the Lovings were a soft-spoken, reserved pair, so it seems appropriate that this film should adopt a tone of gentle inspiration. At a time of sometimes raucous public debate on a similar issue, the documentary reminds us that the U.S. usually—if belatedly—works its way toward decisions that come down against discrimination. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)